Features that reinforce success! Motor Planning is a term used to describe the ability to plan and carry out a skilled motor act in the correct sequence from beginning to end. Motor planning is a feature of coordination that allows for mid-course corrections during a motor act. Body awareness, muscle strength, and functional vision are three elements of motor planning that are usually integrated during
Bilateral Motor Coordination generally refers to the ability to use both sides of the body working together. In daily life, this may be seen by the ability to hold a sheet of paper still with one hand, while using the other hand to manipulate a pencil.
Bilateral Motor Control refers to incorporating use of both sides of the body during motor activities. The processes are also commonly referred to as Bilateral Motor Integration. Typically, bilateral motor control refers to incorporating either symmetrical or reciprocal motor patterns. An example of symmetrical motor patterns is shown above as the children lift both arms of their bodies in a joyous expression. An example
For children who have Sensory Processing Disorders, using vision, especially when approaching unexpected sights, can be challenging. Features such as “Gaze Aversion”, redirecting eye gaze away from an image they find to be disquieting (for instance a face), impacts their ability to interact with the environment, avoiding obstacles in a typical way. Parents of these children are familiar with the types of frequent collisions
Eye hand coordination embodies the concept that visual perception (the way in which we interpret visual images) can have a profound effect upon the way we learn and move. Visual perception represents several skill sets that impact learning. One major skill set is visual discrimination, the ability to perceive an image in terms of its form, shape, color and size is a key aspect
The main idea of this Motor Maze for a child with motor planning deficits is to entice the child to integrate using visual perceptual skills with language to guide motor output. An age appropriate task card has been selected and therapeutic listening is being used to assist with attention. The first step for this youngster will be to speak up to say: The names
Children who have coordination deficits also tend to grow unevenly through growth spurts. Motor patterns in need of additional support during these seasons of life include: Postural extensors of the back and neck — these muscles enable the child to maintain an erect sitting posture allowing for precision at table top work Stabilizing muscles of the shoulder and pelvic girdles — these muscles enable the
Many children who have Sensory Processing Disorders, also have deficits in prerequisites for efficient emergence of fine motor skills: Executive Functions Attention Task organization Task maintenance behaviors / sustaining focus Initiating/terminating activities Postural control coordinating muscles that control posture Ocular motor control coordinating muscles that control the eye balls Developmental Prehension Coordinating muscles that control hand and finger moves Getting all of these domains
The fabric of the hammock was silky and didn’t cling to the skin like the Lycra swing. So we didn’t use it primarily to enhance body awareness in the same way we used the Lycra swing. Instead, we found ourselves using it for pushing and pulling, climbing and rolling movement patterns. These coordinated types of movement patterns are the same ones required for daily
Praxis: (Practice, as distinguished from theory; application or use, as of knowledge or skill) Many children with sensory processing disorders show signs of “Dyspraxia” which is a form of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) affecting gross and fine motor coordination. This photo shows use of a lycra swing as one way to stimulate body awareness. The material provides for a snug fit with deep